A 42-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following the stabbing of a man in Saffron Walden.

The incident happened at 9.30pm last night (Monday). Police were called to Gibson Close following reports that a man had been stabbed in the chest.

The victim was taken by ambulance to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge where he is being treated for a puncture wound to the chest. A police spokesman said the man is in a “critical but stable condition”.

A police helicopter was used to search for the suspect, a local man, who was later arrested in Littlebury at around 2.15am this morning on suspicion of attempted murder.

The Reporter has received unconfirmed reports of officers carrying out vehicle stop-checks, and armed police, in the Gibson Close and Thaxted Road areas of the town last night.